Cross River unveils seven-year coffee roadmap to boost economy

The Cross River State Government has initiated a comprehensive seven-year plan to significantly expand its coffee industry, aiming to diversify the state's economy and bolster non-oil exports. Dubbed the "Coffee Revolution," the strategy is designed to create thousands of jobs through large-scale coffee production and establish Cross River as a leading coffee-producing region in Nigeria and across Africa.

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Governor Bassey Otu had approved the distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers over the life of the strategic plan. The programme would cover about 27,000 hectares of farmland. It is designed to complement the state’s cocoa industry while positioning Cross River as a major coffee-producing hub in Nigeria and Africa.

Johnson Ebokpo, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, detailed the plan, which spans from 2024 to 2032. Governor Bassey Otu has approved the distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers over the roadmap's duration, targeting approximately 27,000 hectares of farmland. This initiative is intended to complement the state's existing cocoa industry.

The first phase of the project commenced in 2025 with the distribution of one million seedlings, though it was temporarily halted due to the end of the planting season. The state plans to distribute four million seedlings during the current planting season. "The vision is to diversify our income base, improve livelihoods and create a new export value chain that will generate wealth for our people," Ebokpo stated.

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The vision is to diversify our income base, improve livelihoods and create a new export value chain that will generate wealth for our people.

The roadmap focuses on key areas including institutional reforms, production enhancement, post-harvest management, marketing strategies, financial access, and sustainability. An extensive farmer enumeration exercise has already been conducted, revealing that women constitute the majority of registered coffee farmers, partly due to advocacy efforts supported by the Office of the First Lady. Cross River's unique climate and agroecological zones are well-suited for both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties, with specific regions identified for each type.

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Cross River’s unique climate and agroecological zones make it suitable for the cultivation of both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties. Arabica coffee would be cultivated in Obudu, Bekwarra and parts of the Boki highlands, while Robusta would be grown across other parts of the state.